Weeks 28 & 29

My heart already overflows with love, yet I've only gotten to hold you in my womb. Im torn between wanting to keep you cocooned and protected from the world forever and anticipation of your arrival, cuddles and discovery of life.

Baby is the size of a Butternut Squash

At 29 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs two-and-a-half to three pounds now and measures 15-and-a-half to 16 inches long. Though she's getting pretty close to her birth length, she still has to chub out a bit. In fact, over the next 11 weeks, she'll more than double — or even come close to tripling — her weight. As more fat is deposited under the skin surface, her wrinkled skin is smoothing out. This white fat, as it's called, is different from the earlier brown fat your developing fetus accumulated. Brown fat is necessary for body temperature regulation, while white fat (the same kind you have, Mom) actually serves as an energy source.

Everything is running smoothly here at baby central. I feel so lucky and fortunate to be having such a "easy" pregnancy. While the first trimester was a little rough at times with fatigue, nausea and food aversions, the second has been a joy. And baby, are we packing in some fun things here or what!

Week 28 started with a very special visitor, my friend Kelsey came to visit for the weekend! Kelsey and I met on the bus stop the first day of 7th grade and were pretty much inseparable for the rest of junior high and high school. We did go to different colleges and now live about 5 hours apart, but every time we get together is like reuniting with family. I wanted to make sure that Kelsey enjoyed her time here in north Idaho in order to increase my chances of getting her to make the drive over more often; so I packed our weekend with some of my favorite activities! Hiking Canfield Mountain, dinner at Syringa, paddle boarding on Hayden Lake, a summer concert at arbor crest winery, and lazy mornings drinking coffee on lounge chairs in the back yard. While I can't speak for Kelsey, I had a terrific weekend!

The following weekend, Thor and I took a quick trip to Seattle to celebrate his friends 40th birthday. Thor recently transitioned to a different advisory firm and has been working really long hours to make his transition complete and successful. It was such a necessary treat to get him out of town for just a day and see him laughing and relaxing with friends from childhood. Even though car travel is not very comfortable for me right now, trips with Thor are one of my ultimate favorite things to do. The two of us can spend hours in the car having the most wonderful conversations that otherwise might not get the chance to happen. I sure hope baby girl enjoys road trips!

Other that those two fun events, I have nothing too special to report. I continue to try and shop for items for baby girl and am currently in the process of planning and preparing for the baby shower. 

Baby Movement: I am FINALLY starting to feel her all throughout the day and I LOVE her wiggles. I try to make a very conscious effort to stop whatever else Im doing and just be in the moment with her an her movements.

Food: Not much change here, still loving salads, fruits, sandwiches, potato chips and sweet treats.... 

Sleep: Getting slightly less consistent but really not too bad. I am very very lucky to have the ability to take naps on days when I did not sleep well the night before. 

Exercise: Starting to feel that baby weight a bit but I am still teaching Zumba and RIP, hiking 7+ miles, gardening, and paddle boarding. 

Mood: Generally complete bliss with moments of anxiety and worry. My biggest concern has been the actual delivery process. I know that a lot of it will be out of my control and I need to just trust that and trust in the experience and knowledge of the hospital staff.

Baby Daddy: Loves feeling the belly and talking to baby girl. Was trying to loudly kiss my belly the other night so that baby girl would be able to hear the kisses!

Week 25-27 re-cap!

Baby is the size of a head of Cauliflower!

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (about the size of a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning – with a lot of medical help–if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

I am loving this stage of pregnancy! I can FINALLY really feel (and see!) baby girl wiggling around and it brings me so much joy to enjoy her little movements and rolls. I told Thor the other day that I was already sad and nostalgic for the pregnancy to come to an end because I just enjoy these moments with her so much and I know I will miss being able to keep her safe inside of me.

I am getting big enough now that activities like putting on socks and picking up dropped items from the floor are accompanied by special movements and grunts. Also, a lot of my pre-pregnancy clothes I was able to get away with wearing are now out the window, thank goodness I had some generous friends who handed down maternity wear to me. 

The big news in our lives is that Thor accepted a position working for Morgan Stanley in Spokane. He will continue his work as a financial advisor, but will have more resources and opportunities for growth at a more established investment firm in a larger market. I could tell by the first day that this was a great change for him and that he will find much more career satisfaction in this new position, so I am really pleased he was able to make this transition. Since the office is now in Spokane, it does mean he has some extra drive time added to his day. Its a doable 45 minute commute, but with the long days he already works, it takes away from valuable time at home snuggling with me, and in a few months, our daughter. For this reason we will likely look into moving to Spokane sometime in 2017- moving with an infant, should be fun!! ha!

Exercise and activity have still felt great, although I am have to make more accommodations to certain movements- booty popping just doesn't work the same for some reason... I have been able to get out on a few jogs, but I keep my distance down to about 3 miles of running now-at that point I normally really have to pee again! Yoga also feels great, its just not my favorite activity so I have to force myself to go. My favorite pregnancy exercise is probably hiking, while I feel a little slower and hotter than 6 months ago, I love getting outside and climbing mountains with my little girl nestled next to me. And lunch afterwards has never tasted to good!

Speaking of food, is it time to eat yet? My appetite is definitely strong and while I have some days where I eat more "normally", other days  I eat like a lumber jack! Still lots of fruit, salads, salt and vinegar potato chips and chocolate chips over here. I have also been loving watermelon, which I have never been a big fan of. I don't understand why they don't make watermelon juice - I would drink that stuff up!

I have made some big steps in getting ready for Baby A in the last few weeks and so am feeling a little less overwhelmed! I am glad I finally acted when I did because the crib and dresser are on back-order and will not be arriving until 2 weeks before d-day! The bookshelf and bedside table arrived last week, and I had fun assembling them and imagining the time that we would spend snuggling and reading with baby girl. I also picked up her infant car seat, a bedside co-sleeper and a diaper bag, among other items. As soon as the nursery is put together (apparently not until closer to d-day!!!) I will share pictures with you all!

Baby shower planning has commenced! Invitations are so sweet and I am shopping for a fascinator! 

I am going to leave you with a few pictures of the last few weeks. Baby says it is time to eat and get ready for yoga!

Enjoying Spokane Hoopfest 2016! 

4th of July with Baby girls aunts! She is so loved already!!!

Yea I made that.... OK, I assembled that!